Refers to one's physical body or one's personal circumstances/fate. Often used in set phrases like 身空に余る (more than one deserves) or 身空がいい (fortunate).
This important role is more than I deserve.
He is fortunate, so he always gets help.
Standard kanji spelling for this word.
Kana spelling is sometimes used, especially in casual or explanatory contexts.
Compound of 身 (body, oneself) and 空 (empty, sky). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word may have originally referred to one's physical frame or state of being.